Hockey goalkeeper leg pad

ABSTRACT

A hockey goalkeeper leg pad includes a pad body and flaps extending from the pad body. The flaps including lateral and medial flaps spaced-part to define a leg channel. An inner strap is extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach one of the medial flaps to one of the lateral flaps. The inner strap is resilient along at least a longitudinal segment. The longitudinal segment is stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the inner strap to increase in length. An outer strap is extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach an outermost one of the medial flaps to an outermost one of the lateral flaps. The outer strap is less resilient than the longitudinal segment of the inner strap.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates generally to protective leg pads, and more particularly leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

In sporting events, such as ice hockey, players generally wear protective leg equipment. Ice hockey goalkeepers generally wear a specific type of leg pad, known as “goalie pads”. Improvements in such goalie leg pads are continuously sought, particularly in order to improve their comfort and the mobility of the goalkeeper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is accordingly provided a hockey goalkeeper leg pad, comprising: a pad body having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface mountable onto a leg of a goalkeeper, the pad body having a lateral portion corresponding to a lateral side of the leg and a medial portion corresponding to a medial side of the leg when the pad body is mounted onto the leg; flaps extending away from the inner surface of the pad body, the flaps including lateral and medial flaps spaced-part at the lateral and medial portions, respectively, of the pad body, the spaced-apart lateral and medial flaps defining a leg channel to receive the leg of the goalkeeper; an inner strap extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach one of the medial flaps to one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the inner strap being resilient along at least a longitudinal segment thereof, the longitudinal segment being stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the inner strap to increase in length; and an outer strap extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach an outermost one of the medial flaps to an outermost one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the outer strap being less resilient than the longitudinal segment of the inner strap.

There is also provided a hockey goalkeeper leg pad, comprising: a pad body having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface mountable onto a leg of a goalkeeper, the pad body having a lateral portion corresponding to a lateral side of the leg and a medial portion corresponding to a medial side of the leg when the pad body is mounted onto the leg; flaps extending away from the inner surface of the pad body, the flaps including lateral and medial flaps spaced-part at the lateral and medial portions, respectively, of the pad body, the spaced-apart lateral and medial flaps defining a leg channel to receive the leg of the goalkeeper; an inner restraining means for releasably attaching one of the medial flaps to one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the inner restraining means being resilient along at least a segment thereof, the segment being stretchable to increase in length; and an outer restraining means for releasably attaching an outermost one of the medial flaps to an outermost one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the outer restraining means being less resilient than the segment of the inner restraining means.

In an alternate aspect, there is further provided a method of mounting a leg pad to a leg of a player, the method comprising positioning the leg within a leg channel of the leg pad, the leg channel being defined between lateral flaps of the leg pad and medial flaps of the leg pad; releasably attaching innermost ones of the lateral and medial flaps together with a resilient inner strap to wrap said innermost flaps about the leg; and releasably attaching outermost ones of the lateral and medial flaps together with an inelastic outer strap to wrap said outermost flaps about the leg and about the inner strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a hockey goalkeeper leg pad, worn on a leg of a goalkeeper, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is another rear perspective view of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another rear perspective view of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another rear perspective view of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 1, shown from a lateral side of the leg;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of medial flaps of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a schematic view of an inner strap of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is a schematic view of an inner strap of a hockey goalkeeper leg pad according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6C is a schematic view of an outer strap of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is a rear perspective view of a hockey goalkeeper leg pad in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7B is another rear perspective view of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a hockey goalkeeper leg pad 10 that can be used to protect at least a portion of a leg 12 of a goalkeeper during sporting events, such as ice hockey for example, from hazards such as a hockey puck shot toward the legs 12 of the goalkeeper wearing the leg pads 10. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad 10 (also referred to herein simply as “leg pad 10”) can have different sizes and shapes and is adapted to cover, or substantially cover, the leg 12. In the depicted embodiment, the leg pad 10 is of a type generally known as a “goalie pad” or a “goalkeeper's pad” such as those worn by ice hockey goalkeepers. The leg pad 10 extends between two opposite end 14, 16. When the leg pad 10 is worn by the player, it extends along a vertical or longitudinal axis 18 thereof from a foot to a thigh of the player. In the embodiment shown, the leg pad 10 is adapted to be worn on the left leg 12 of the player. A corresponding leg pad can be worn on the right leg of the player. Although the leg pad 10 is shown and described herein as a hockey goalkeeper's pad, other embodiments of the leg pad 10 are used for other sports. The leg 12 has an outer, or lateral side 12A, and an inner, or medial side 12B.

The leg pad 10 has a pad body 20 adapted to protect an anterior (front) side of the leg 12, leg flaps 22, 24 to protect the lateral and medial sides 12A, 12B as well as a portion of the back of the leg 12, and straps 26 to attach the flaps 22, 24 and mount the pad body 20. These features of the leg pad 10 are now described in greater detail. In use, the leg 12 is received in a leg channel 11 defined between the leg flaps 22, 24.

The pad body 20 has a rectangular shape extending between the two ends 14, 16 along the longitudinal direction 18. When the pad body 20 is mounted onto the leg 12, the pad body 20 generally extends between the feet and a portion of the thigh of the player. In an alternate embodiment, the pad body 20 has another length. The pad body 20 has an outer surface 28 to shield the leg 12 from the hazards and an inner surface 30 shaped to receive at least a portion of the leg 12. Protective padding fills the space between the inner and outer surfaces 28,30. The pad body 20 has a lateral portion 20A corresponding to the lateral side 12A of the leg 12 and a medial portion 20B corresponding to the medial side 12B of the leg 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the lateral and medial flaps 22, 24 of the leg pad 10 extend away from the inner surface 30 of the pad body 20. In the embodiment shown, the leg pad 10 has two lateral flaps 22 extending away from the lateral portion 20A of the pad body 20, and three medial flaps 24 extending away from the medial portion 20B of the pad body 20. More than three medial flaps 24 and more than two lateral flaps 22 are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. The flaps 22, 24 can be made from any suitable material to shield the portions of the leg 12 from the hazards and also allow flexibility to accommodate movements of the player. For example, the flaps 22, 24 can be formed of a yieldable and force-absorbing material to allow the player to move while also shielding the leg 12.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the lateral flaps 22 include an outermost lateral flap 22A and an innermost lateral flap 22B. A width 32 of the outermost lateral flap 22A is greater than a width 34 of the innermost lateral flap 22B. Therefore, in the depicted embodiment, when the flaps 22,24 are wrapped about the leg 12, the outermost lateral flap 22A substantially covers the innermost lateral flap 22B.

The medial flaps 24 include an outermost medial flap 24A, an innermost medial flap 24B and an intermediate medial flap 24C between the outermost and innermost medial flaps 24A, 24B. A width 36A of the outermost medial flap 24A is less than a width 36C the intermediate medial flap 24C. The width 36C of the intermediate medial flap 24C is less than a width 36B of the innermost medial flap 24B. Upon joining the outermost medial and lateral flaps 22A, 24A together, the innermost medial flap 24B is partially covered by the intermediate medial flap 24C, and the intermediate medial flap 24C is partially covered by the outermost medial flap 24A. Therefore, the innermost medial flap 24B is covered or shielded by two or more other medial flaps 24. A length of the outermost medial flap 24A measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 18 of the pad body 20 is less than a length of the other medial flaps 24B, 24C.

Still referring to FIG. 2, an outer surface 54 of the outermost medial flap 24A has a protrusion 38 of additional padding or material for added protection. The protrusion 38 occupies only some of the outer surface 54 of the outermost medial flap 24A. A remainder 40 of the outer surface 54 does not have the protrusion 38 of additional padding or material. A thickness 42 of the protrusion 38 is greater than a thickness 44 of the remainder 40 of the outer surface 54. Thus, when the player assumes a “butterfly” position, the protrusion 38 abuts the ice or the playing surface while keeping the remainder 40 of the outer surface 54 away from the ice. The remainder 40 of the outermost medial flap 24A has an opening 46 extending between an inner surface 52 of the outermost medial flap 24A and the outer surface 54 to receive one of the straps 26 therethrough. An edge 48 of the opening 46 is reinforced in the depicted embodiment.

The outermost flaps 22A, 24A are releasably joinable together with an outer one of the straps 26, designated herein as outer strap 26A. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the outer strap 26A extends along the remainder 40 of the outer surface 54 of the outermost medial flap 24A, and through the opening 46. The portion of the outer strap 26A along the outermost medial flap 24A is laterally offset from the protrusion 38. Stated differently, the portion of the outer strap 26A along the outermost medial flap 24A is positioned more centrally along the rear of the leg 12 relative to the protrusion 38. The outer strap 26A may therefore avoid abutting the ice surface when the goalkeeper is in the butterfly position. The outer strap 26A is made of a non-resilient material. The outer strap 26A is therefore substantially inelastic along its longitudinal axis. The outer strap 26A has substantially zero resilient deformation along a longitudinal axis of the outer strap 26A. By “substantially zero”, it is understood that the outer strap 26A is incapable of resilient deformation along its longitudinal axis that would contribute to increasing its length in a significant manner. The outer strap 26A is therefore a body with a fixed length defined between two opposed ends.

The inelastic outer strap 26A acts as an end-stop by keeping the leg 12 within the leg channel 11 when the goalkeeper is in the butterfly position. In a particular embodiment, the outer strap 26A is made of webbing from weaved nylon material. The outer strap 26A has a hook and loop fastener 58 at one end 60 thereof to releasably secure the end 60 to a middle segment 62 of the outer strap 26A. In use, the player adjusts the position at which the end 60 attached to the middle segment 62 to securely mount the leg pad 10 onto the leg 12.

The leg pad 10 has a strap fastener 64 disposed adjacent to the outermost lateral flap 22A to receive the outer strap 26A. The strap fastener 64 is sized and shaped to allow the end 60 of the outer strap 26A to be inserted through the strap fastener 64 so as to wrap a segment of the strap 26A around the strap fastener 64. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the strap fastener 64 is attached to the inner surface 30 of the pad body 20 to maximize the portion of the outer strap 26A extending on the outer surface 66 of the outermost lateral flap 22A. In an alternate embodiment, the strap fastener 64 is mounted on the outer surface 66 of the outermost lateral flap 22A.

The innermost flaps 22B, 24B are releasably joinable together with a resilient or elastic inner strap 26B. The inner strap 26B is extendable along an outer surface 70 of the innermost medial flap 24B and an outer surface 72 of the innermost lateral flap 22A. The inner strap 26B, or a segment thereof, is made of a resilient material. The resiliency of the inner strap 26B or its segment allows it to be stretchable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner strap 26B so as to increase the length of the inner strap 26B. The inner strap 26B can be made from any suitable material which is elastic and suitable to join the innermost flaps 22B, 24B to each other during movement of the player.

In the embodiment shown, the intermediate and outermost medial flaps 24C, 24A cover a portion of the inner strap 26B. When the player assumes the butterfly position, the intermediate and outermost medial flaps 24C, 24A shield the portion of the inner strap 26B from abutting the ice. The resilient material of the inner strap 26B offers stretch to accommodate the rotation and freedom of movement of the leg 12 within the leg channel 11, which is needed when the player is in the butterfly position. The inner strap 26B, or the segment thereof, is more resilient than the outer strap 26A. The outer strap 26A is offset from the inner strap 26B along the longitudinal axis 18 of the pad body 20. The inner strap 26B is closer to the rear of the leg 12 of the goalkeeper than the outer strap 26A when the leg pad 10 is mounted to the leg 12 of the player. The outer and inner straps 26A, 26B are made from non-leather, or leather-free, materials.

The outer and inner straps 26A,26B therefore form restraints, or inner and outer restraining means, for releasably attaching the flaps 22,24 together, and to help confine the leg 12 of the goalkeeper to the leg channel 11 during use of the leg pad 10. The outer and inner restraining means are therefore not limited to the outer and inner straps 26A,26B shown in FIG. 2, and also encompass other objects capable of such functionality. Non-limiting examples of these other objects include belts, chords (e.g. a shock cord), and bindings.

Referring to FIG. 3, the inner strap 26B is shown extending between the innermost flaps 22B, 24B and joining the innermost flaps 22B, 24B together. In the embodiment shown, the inner strap 26B has a base 90 that is fixedly attached to the outer surface 70 of the innermost medial flap 24B through stitching 76. Other fixing methods can be used to bond the base 90 of the inner strap 26B to the innermost medial flap 24B, such that they remain bonded during normal use of the leg pad 10. The base 90 is Y-shaped. In a particular embodiment, the base is made of thermoplastic polyurethane material. The base 90 is attached to a resilient band 92 which forms the resilient corpus of the inner strap 26B. In an alternate embodiment, the inner strap 26B is fixedly attached to the innermost lateral flap 22B.

Referring to FIG. 4, an end 78 of the inner strap 26B is shown releasably attached to an outer surface 80 of the innermost lateral flap 22B. In the embodiment shown, the inner strap 26B is attached to the innermost lateral flap 22B with a hook and loop fastener 82. Other attachment mechanism can be used to releasably attach the inner strap 26B to the innermost lateral flap 22B.

Referring to FIG. 5, a base 84 of the outer strap 26A is shown attached to the inner surface 52 of the outermost medial flap 24A. The base 84 is Y-shaped. In the depicted embodiment, the base 84 of the outer strap 26A is attached to the outermost medial flap 24A through stitching 76. Other fixing methods can be used to fixedly attach the base 84 to the inner surface 52 of the outermost medial flap 24A. In an alternate embodiment, the base 84 of the outer strap 26A is fixedly attached to the outermost lateral flap 22A instead of the outermost medial flap 24A. The outer strap 26A defines an exposed segment 94 (see FIG. 2) and a covered segment 96 of the outer strap 26A when the outer strap 26A extends through the opening 46. The exposed segment 94 of the outer strap 26A extends from the opening 46 along the outer surface 54 of the outermost medial flap 24A (see FIG. 2). The covered segment 96 extends from the base to the opening 46 along the inner surface 52 of the outermost medial flap 24A, as shown in FIG. 5. The covered segment 94 is more medially disposed than the exposed segment 96. By being positioned along the inner surface 52 of the outermost medial flap 24A, the covered segment 94 is shielded so that the covered segment 94 does not contact the ice when the player is in, or manoeuvring to, the butterfly position.

The inner surface 52 of the outermost medial flap 24A is releasably attachable to the outer surface 86 of the intermediate medial flap 24C. In alternate embodiments where the leg pad 10 has more than one intermediate medial flap 24C, all or any number of the intermediate medial flaps 24C are releasably attachable to each other. An elongated hook and loop fastener 88 is provided between the outermost medial flap 26A and the intermediate medial flap 24C, and is used to releasable attach them together. In alternate embodiments, other suitable attaching mechanism can be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, a method is also disclosed herein for mounting the leg pad 10 onto the leg 12 of the player. The method includes positioning the leg 12 within the leg channel 11 of the leg pad 10, releasably attaching the innermost lateral and medial flaps 22B, 24B together with the resilient inner strap 26B to wrap the innermost flaps 22B, 24B about the leg 12 and releasably attaching the outermost lateral and medial flaps 22A, 24A together with the inelastic outer strap 26A to wrap the outermost flaps 22A, 24A about the leg 12 and about the inner strap 26B.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the inner strap 26B has the Y-shaped base 90 that is fixedly attached to the outer surface 70 of the innermost medial flap 24B, the resilient band 92, and the hook-and-loop fastener 82. The base 90 in the depicted embodiment is composed of a microfiber and polyurethane. The resilient band 92 is 2 in. long, and is composed of an elastic strap material. The elastic trap material is a mixture of 80% polyester yarn, and 20% rubber.

FIG. 6B shows another embodiment of the inner strap 126B. The inner strap 126B has the Y-shaped base 190, the resilient band 192, and the hook-and-loop fastener 182. The inner strap 126B also has plastic buckles or loops 127 through which portions of the resilient band 192 extend. A first portion 190A of the base 190 in the depicted embodiment is composed of a microfiber and polyurethane, and a second portion 190B is composed of polyolefin foam. The resilient band 92 is composed of an elastic strap material. The elastic trap material is a mixture of 80% polyester yarn, and 20% rubber. The base or backing of the hook-and-loop fastener 182 is composed of a microfiber and polyurethane.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the outer strap 26A has the Y-shaped base 84 that is attached to the outermost medial flap 24A, a strap portion 93 having the exposed segment 94 and the covered segment 96, and the hook-and-loop fastener 58 at one end 60 of the outer strap 26A. The base 84 in the depicted embodiment is composed of a microfiber and polyurethane. The resilient strap portion 93 is a webbing composed of a core 100% polypropylene. A nylon finish with a polyester binding is applied to one side 93A of the core of the strap portion 93, and loops to mate with the hooks of the hook-and-loop fastener 58 are attached to the other side 93B of the core of the strap portion 93.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show another embodiment of the outer strap 126A. The base 94 of the outer strap 126A extends along the outer surface 54 of the outermost medial flap 24A. The base 94 of the outer strap 126A and part of the strap portion 93 are shielded on the medial side of the pad body by the protrusion 38 which abuts the ice playing surface when the goalkeeper assumes a “butterfly” position. The protrusion 38 in the depicted embodiment is an inner or medial calf-protector pad. The base 94 of the strap 126A is attached at the junction of the protrusion 38 and the outermost medial flap 24A.

The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Still other modifications which fall within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims. 

1. A hockey goalkeeper leg pad, comprising: a pad body having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface mountable onto a leg of a goalkeeper, the pad body having a lateral portion corresponding to a lateral side of the leg and a medial portion corresponding to a medial side of the leg when the pad body is mounted onto the leg; flaps extending away from the inner surface of the pad body, the flaps including lateral and medial flaps spaced-part at the lateral and medial portions, respectively, of the pad body, the spaced-apart lateral and medial flaps defining a leg channel to receive the leg of the goalkeeper; an inner strap extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach one of the medial flaps to one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the inner strap being resilient along at least a longitudinal segment thereof, the longitudinal segment being stretchable along a longitudinal axis of the inner strap to increase in length; and an outer strap extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach an outermost one of the medial flaps to an outermost one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the outer strap being less resilient than the longitudinal segment of the inner strap.
 2. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer strap is inelastic along a longitudinal axis of the outer strap.
 3. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer strap has substantially zero resilient deformation along a longitudinal axis of the outer strap.
 4. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner strap is extendable across the leg channel to releasably attach an innermost one of the medial flaps to an innermost one of the lateral flaps.
 5. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the flaps include two lateral flaps and three medial flaps.
 6. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 5, wherein the inner strap is at least partially disposed between an innermost medial flap and an intermediate medial flap disposed between the innermost and outermost medial flaps.
 7. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 6, wherein an inner surface of the outermost medial flap is releasably attachable to an outer surface of the intermediate medial flap.
 8. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 5, wherein the inner strap is fixedly attached to one of the innermost medial and lateral flaps.
 9. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer strap has a base fixedly attached to an inner surface of the outermost medial flap.
 10. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the outermost medial flap has an opening extending between an inner surface and an outer surface thereof, the outer strap being receivable through the opening to define an exposed segment of the outer strap extending along the outer surface of the outermost medial flap, and a covered segment extending along the inner surface of the outermost medial flap.
 11. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, comprising a strap fastener disposed adjacent to the outermost lateral flap, the outer strap being insertable through the strap fastener and wrappable therearound.
 12. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 11, wherein the strap fastener is mounted to the inner surface of the pad body.
 13. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer straps are offset from each other along a longitudinal direction of the pad body.
 14. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer straps are free from leather material.
 15. A hockey goalkeeper leg pad, comprising: a pad body having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface mountable onto a leg of a goalkeeper, the pad body having a lateral portion corresponding to a lateral side of the leg and a medial portion corresponding to a medial side of the leg when the pad body is mounted onto the leg; flaps extending away from the inner surface of the pad body, the flaps including lateral and medial flaps spaced-part at the lateral and medial portions, respectively, of the pad body, the spaced-apart lateral and medial flaps defining a leg channel to receive the leg of the goalkeeper; an inner restraining means for releasably attaching one of the medial flaps to one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the inner restraining means being resilient along at least a segment thereof, the segment being stretchable to increase in length; and an outer restraining means for releasably attaching an outermost one of the medial flaps to an outermost one of the lateral flaps when the leg is in the leg channel, the outer restraining means being less resilient than the segment of the inner restraining means.
 16. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer restraining means is inelastic along a longitudinal axis thereof.
 17. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer restraining means has substantially zero resilient deformation along a longitudinal axis thereof.
 18. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner restraining means releasably attaches an innermost one of the medial flaps to an innermost one of the lateral flaps.
 19. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer restraining means are offset from each other along a longitudinal direction of the pad body.
 20. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer restraining means are free from leather material. 